Petra’s father, an expert in metal (he can actually move it with his mind), has been in Prague for too long as far as Petra is concerned. However, she is very proud of him since he has been commissioned by the Prince of Bohemia to make the world’s first astrological clock. The day he finally returns home, he is missing his eyes. The Prince has stolen them to wear. Petra and her pet robotic spider Astrophil go to the castle determined to bring back his eyes. Full of adventure and excitement, this fantasy will keep the reader’s eyes glued to the pages.
Author interview : Marie Rutkoski, describes the characters from her book in an interview.
Marie Rutkoski interviews Astrophil, the Tin Spider. (PDF activity guide)
What is a Cabinet of Wonders?
The Getty Museum explains it as:
"Like a museum, it was used to store, organize, and display a prized collection of works of art and natural objects. By opening its many doors and drawers, the original owner could embark on a labyrinth-like journey, admiring tiny oil paintings, wood carvings, and precious inlaid materials decorating its surfaces—much like the voyage of exploration and discovery experienced in a museum visit"
Each of the four sides of this cabinet opens to reveal an unexpectedly complex series of drawers. Collectors from the early 1600s would have used cabinets of this kind to store such rare and exotic objects as medals, gems, or shells.
For the past few months Petra has been hidden away from Prince Rodolfo. In an attempt to try and capture the young girl who has stolen from his secret cabinet the Prince sends evil man made monsters to track down Petra. With the help of a friend and her father, Petra has enough warning to not be killed by the monsters but instead ends up facing them in a fight.
The next thing Petra knows she has magically appeared in London. However, London is thousands of miles away from her hometown. It appears as if John Dee has saved her from the monster attack but is now keeping her prisoner in his home. What would his motivation be to keeping Petra safe? Is he out to use Petra like he did in Prince Rodolfo's castle?
Meanwhile, after the monster's attack on Petra. Petra's friend, Tomik goes in search of her. What he finds are four dead animals. As he searches the area that he believes Petra is he magically walks through a rift that takes him to a mysterious beach somewhere on the coast. It is Tomik's luck that he is captured by a group of gypsy pirates who take Tomik captive in the hopes of selling him as a slave later on. On the ship that Tomik is taken captive on there is an old friend of Petra who will take an interest in Tomik's goal of saving Petra. While on the ship the pirates are in search of a magical globe known as The Celestial Globe which will help them travel around the world through rifts. The only problem is no one knows where this Globe has disappeared to or even how to use it.
Watch Video of Book Trailer
http://www.teachertube.com/members/viewVideo.php?video_id=194490
Petra’s father, an expert in metal (he can actually move it with his mind), has been in Prague for too long as far as Petra is concerned. However, she is very proud of him since he has been commissioned by the Prince of Bohemia to make the world’s first astrological clock. The day he finally returns home, he is missing his eyes. The Prince has stolen them to wear. Petra and her pet robotic spider Astrophil go to the castle determined to bring back his eyes. Full of adventure and excitement, this fantasy will keep the reader’s eyes glued to the pages.
Getting to know the Author:
**Marie Rutkoski Bio** --from publisher, Macmillan
Author explains a bit of why she wrote The Cabinet of Wonders
Sign of the Spider website- Marie Rutkoski's author web site.
Author interview : Marie Rutkoski, describes the characters from her book in an interview.
Marie Rutkoski interviews Astrophil, the Tin Spider. (PDF activity guide)
click here to hear a podcast of Author interview at Book Expo of America
What is a Cabinet of Wonders?
The Getty Museum explains it as:
"Like a museum, it was used to store, organize, and display a prized collection of works of art and natural objects. By opening its many doors and drawers, the original owner could embark on a labyrinth-like journey, admiring tiny oil paintings, wood carvings, and precious inlaid materials decorating its surfaces—much like the voyage of exploration and discovery experienced in a museum visit"
Albert Jansz. Vinckenbrinck
German, Augsburg, about 1630
Each of the four sides of this cabinet opens to reveal an unexpectedly complex series of drawers. Collectors from the early 1600s would have used cabinets of this kind to store such rare and exotic objects as medals, gems, or shells.
Texas Bluebonnet Book Literature Connections:
The Kronos Chronicles: Book II
Book review source:: Fantasy Book Critic-Cindy HannikmanFor the past few months Petra has been hidden away from Prince Rodolfo. In an attempt to try and capture the young girl who has stolen from his secret cabinet the Prince sends evil man made monsters to track down Petra. With the help of a friend and her father, Petra has enough warning to not be killed by the monsters but instead ends up facing them in a fight.
The next thing Petra knows she has magically appeared in London. However, London is thousands of miles away from her hometown. It appears as if John Dee has saved her from the monster attack but is now keeping her prisoner in his home. What would his motivation be to keeping Petra safe? Is he out to use Petra like he did in Prince Rodolfo's castle?
Meanwhile, after the monster's attack on Petra. Petra's friend, Tomik goes in search of her. What he finds are four dead animals. As he searches the area that he believes Petra is he magically walks through a rift that takes him to a mysterious beach somewhere on the coast. It is Tomik's luck that he is captured by a group of gypsy pirates who take Tomik captive in the hopes of selling him as a slave later on. On the ship that Tomik is taken captive on there is an old friend of Petra who will take an interest in Tomik's goal of saving Petra. While on the ship the pirates are in search of a magical globe known as The Celestial Globe which will help them travel around the world through rifts. The only problem is no one knows where this Globe has disappeared to or even how to use it.